Glen Powell said his ex‑girlfriend Gigi Paris is "welcome" to her version of events surrounding their 2023 breakup and the publicity storm tied to the hit rom‑com Anyone But You.
In a cover story for GQ, Powell, 36, told the magazine he has "nothing but love for her and respect for her" and that "everybody’s always going to have their own narrative on things and all that. And she’s welcome to it." He added that when relationships end, "they each go to their own brunch and they will each tell their own narrative."
The split between Powell and Paris, then his girlfriend of several years, became public in April 2023 amid intense tabloid speculation that Powell had an on‑set romance with co‑star Sydney Sweeney during filming. Powell and Sweeney later acknowledged they had leaned into those rumors as part of the film's publicity; Powell has said the tactic "worked wonderfully" as the movie became a box‑office success. Paris has said she was left "blindsided" and "shattered" when the rumors surfaced.
In a June 2025 interview on the Too Much podcast, Paris, 32, described being told by Powell that the promotional maneuver was necessary for his career. She said Powell's explanation — "This is what I have to do for my job" — left her with two choices: go along with the speculation or end the relationship. "So that’s what I decided to do," she said, adding that she had "two options" and ultimately could not tolerate being publicly second‑guessed. Paris said she flew to Australia to confront Powell amid the film's production and left the relationship, saying she was "bawling" on the trip.
Powell told GQ that he has tried to filter outside noise as his profile has grown, crediting advice from Tom Cruise to "turn the volume down" on publicity and trust his instincts. "It’s going to get really, really loud. It’s your job to just turn the volume down," Powell said, calling that guidance "a real godsend for me." He has also publicly praised Sweeney's promotional work on the film, saying she was "very smart" about fueling publicity.
Paris has criticized the handling of the publicity, saying in interviews that she deserved a public denial from Powell and that the campaign mistreated her. "The bare minimum of any relationship is to have your partner’s back, period," she said on the podcast, adding that she felt "fed to the dogs" and that she had reached a personal threshold.
Sweeney, 27, who was engaged at the time of the film’s release and served as an executive producer, has said she was heavily involved in marketing discussions and ideas. She publicly confirmed her split from then‑fiancé Jonathan Davino in May 2025 after months of breakup rumors.
Powell has acknowledged the promotional strategy in interviews, telling outlets that he and Sweeney capitalized on audience interest during the film's campaign. He also said the situation was complicated by a contemporaneous, "very real breakup" and by the personal strain of promoting a major release while navigating his private life.
The controversy underscored tensions that can arise when publicity tactics intersect with personal relationships. Powell has continued to promote his rising career, while Paris has publicly described the emotional toll of the events and pressed for what she called basic decency and respect in how the situation was managed. The parties involved have framed the episode differently: Powell emphasizes career strategy and boundary management; Paris emphasizes a sense of betrayal and insufficient support during a painful breakup.